TANZANIA : Grizzlies pick Tanzania Thabeet for NBA league

The National Basketball Association(NBA), the most prestigious Basketball league in the world, confirmed Tanzanian Hasheem Thabeet as the second overall draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.

US embassy's Public Diplomacy Officer, Karen Grissette confirmed yesterday her press release report to The Citizen.

Thabeet becomes the first Tanzanian in history to join America's NBA, this is a proud moment for both the United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States of America.

Hasheem Thabeet's number two selection is remarkable. The NBA draft is an annual event in which each of the 30 NBA teams selects from among the new players that wish to join the league.

The 2009 NBA draft consisted of 2 rounds of picks with 30 picks in each round. As the second pick, Hasheem Thabeet was one of the two most desirable players from among all the players in the world who entered the draft.

To be among the first two players chosen from hundreds of college and international prospects is quite an accomplishment. Now, as the first Tanzanian in the NBA, Hasheem joins players of about 70 other different nationalities that make up the league.

"Though basketball has not reached the popularity of football in Tanzania, we see that more and more Tanzanians are playing basketball.

A big reason for that is built upon Hasheem Thabeet's success playing in the United States. In fact, President Obama and President Kikwete both share and have discussed their great love of basketball," said the official .

After being discovered while playing street ball in Dar es Salaam, Hasheem Thabeet went on to attend three years of university and play basketball in the United States on a scholarship.

His successful career playing basketball for the University of Connecticut led to his decision to join the 2009 NBA Draft.

Last night in New York, he said, "to me, this is a blessing." He continued, "To get this opportunity to come out here and get an education� I want to say, thank you."

Sport has become a universal language. It does not matter if we are from different countries, different races, or different religions.

We all appreciate the value of sport and the virtues it teaches us: discipline, friendship, and the desire to improve ourselves through practice and hard work.